Patna: Senior representatives of several political parties, led by RJD national working president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and CPI(ML) Liberation national general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, visited Gardanibagh dharna site in Patna on Tuesday and extended support to PhD degree holders and research scholars, who are continuing their agitation and indefinite hunger strike for the 15th consecutive day.The protest is being held under the banner of the All PhD Holders and Research Scholars Association of Bihar. The agitators are demanding that the process for appointment of assistant professors be carried out in accordance with UGC Regulations, 2018, along with compliance with Table 3A of the regulations. Their other demands include implementation of domicile policy in Bihar, removal of anomalies in the Bihar Statute 2026, proper opportunities for eligible candidates, resolution of issues concerning guest teachers and research scholars, and early appointment of assistant professors against vacant posts in various universities.Among the other political functionaries who reached the protest site were CPI national secretary Girish Chandra Sharma, former minister and Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha, MLC Sanjay Kumar Singh and Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurav. The leaders met the protesters and inquired about the health of Kumud Patel, who is on an indefinite hunger strike.Leader of opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav described the demands of the protesters as serious and justified. He said the state govt should consider with sensitivity the issues linked to the future of research scholars, PhD degree holders, guest teachers and eligible candidates, and resolve the pending demands at the earliest. Tejashwi assured the agitators that efforts would be made to strongly raise the problems of research scholars at the appropriate forum.Dipankar Bhattacharya said the concerns of youths associated with higher education and research were not merely personal issues, but were linked to Bihar’s academic future. He said the state govt should seriously listen to research scholars and PhD degree holders and ensure a transparent recruitment process in line with UGC Regulations, 2018.Jha also termed the demands justified and said the govt should hold talks with representatives of the agitators to find a solution. Saurav said the protest was not just about appointments, but concerned the future of Bihar’s research scholars, PhD holders, guest teachers, thousands of eligible youths and the quality of higher education. He urged the govt to take concrete, time-bound decisions.
